tragedy in texas. a deadly explosion in a fertilizer plant injuries dozens, levels homes, and leaves a small town in a state of shock. >> just unbelievable, something you probably would not ever want to see in your life. captioning funded by cbs nlg this is the "cbs morning news" for thursday, april 18th. good morning. good to be with you. i'm anne-marie green. this morning all that's left of the texas fertilizer plant. destroyed by an explosion. last night's blast in the town of west was as powerful as a magnitude 2.1 earthquake.

dozens have been injure and an unknown number have been killed. a ten-block area has been evacuated due to toxic fumes. amateur video captured the moment of the explosion, which occurred while firefighters were battling flames inside the plant. >> are you okay? >> i can't hear. >> officials say up to 75 homes have been damaged and an entire apartment complex was completely destroyed. this morning the search continues for survivors. >> i walked through the blast area, i searched some houses earlier tonight. massive. just like iraq. just like the murray building in oklahoma city. same kind. anhydrous exploded. you can imagine what kind of damage we're looking at out there. >> manuel bojorquez is out there. good morning, manuel. what can you tell us?

>> reporter: good morning, anne-marie. we were briefed by authorities just about a half hour ago. they tell us right now they're still in search and recovery mode, still pulling people >> are you okay? >> i can't hear. >> officials say up to 75 homes have been damaged and an entir you can tell by the video that was captured by so many who live in the community of west, texas. we learn thad there are firefighters who are unaccounted for and also one police officer. again, this is a very fluid situation. they're not willing just yet to really nail the numbers down as far as injured. we're told that there could be 100, possibly more. but they're not willing to say how many dead right now. they're only confirming that there are fatalities. as soon as we arrive, we headed over to the local high school

which served as a triage for all of the victims and we spoke to two young men who saw the blast themselves who said their ears were rin gruesome scene. buildings were falling over everywhere. it was terrible. >> reporter: you have a huge number of people running toward the situation, volunteers, people wanting to help. we saw that at the triage area ourselves. there's a church there where we were also able to speak to an

elderly couple. they live near the blast. a 90-year-old woman told us that the ceiling collapsed on top of her. her husband who just had heart surgery who is 89 years old was somehow able to lift all of the sheetrock off of her and basically saved her life. here's how they described their situation. >> i thought an airplane engine came down. i saw the ceiling coming down and sheetrock, and i looked at my wife, and she was covered up in sheetrock, so i had to get one sheet at a time because i'm not supposed to be picking up stuff. so we got her out. >> reporter: you had to rescue your wife. >> yeah. >> reporter: from the rubble. >> i had to save her. she was on the couch and the sheetrock, i had to slide it off. >> reporter: at some point someone helped you, right? >> the man upstairs helped me.

>> i tell you, i think that god is looking out for us because we've had some things happen to us but nothing like this. >> reporter: their story repo reported over and over, so many homes destroyed. the red cross is helping as well. anne-marie, very, as we described it, fluid situation here with authorities still recovering people, victims, survivors from the blast area, not yet willing to put a number on how many are dead but saying whatever that number is, they expect it to grow as the morning goes on. >> manuel, before grow, this started as a fire yesterday

evening. i presume once the explosion occurred, firefighters had to get out of there. is that initial fire under control? >> reporter: the fire is under control tonight for the most part. it's still -- parts of it are still smoke and embers are still going so they're keeping a very close eye on that. there was a concern earlier about tanks still in that facility. it seems like that concern has sus sided. you're right though. this was a fire that started at about 6:00 p.m. local time, so firefighters had responded when they realized this was a fertilizer plant. they started to pull back. we're told they actually started to evacuate some of the areas around there before the blast happened, but they weren't able to get everybody out obviously before that explosion took place. so that is why we're seeing so many casualties here. they tried their best, and we're told that some of the

firefighters and first responders there are unaccounted for this morning. >> west, texas, is sort of your quintessential town, a farming community. when you talk about a half a dozen people injured, we don't know how many are killed, it must have a huge impact on such a small town. >> reporter: most definitely. we spoke with people. we said, you've got to be imagining right now or hoping the folks you know, your friends or family members who live nearby are not affected by this. they said, obviously, yes, we're hoping the people we know from this community, this tight-knit community, less than 3,000 people live here, are not affected by this. you can imagine the numbers that we're hearing and the numbers sure to come out that there will be a huge impact to so many families, businesses, this entire community that right now is not even able to pull back and look at the full scope of this. they're still trying to assess just the magnitude of this

disaster. >> yes. it's going to be a tough few days moving forward. manuel bojorquez in west, texas. thank you very much, this is the "cbs morning news." ♪ [ acoustic guitar: upbeat ] [ dog ] we found it together. on a walk, walk, walk. love to walk. yeah, we found that wonderful thing. and you smiled. and threw it. and i decided i would never, ever leave it anywhere. because that wonderful, bouncy, roll-around thing... had made you play. and that... had made you smile. [ announcer ] beneful. play. it's good for you. of mild to moderate alzheimer's disease

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but instead she gives him capri sun super-v. with one combined serving of fruits and vegetables. capri sun super-v. [ female announcer ] neutrogena® pore refining cleanser. alpha-hydroxy and exfoliating beads work to clean and tighten pores so they can look half their size. pores...shrink 'em down to size! [ female announcer ] pore refining cleanser. neutrogena.® a massive explosion destroyed a fertilizer plant in central texas. there was a fire before the blast. an unknown number have been killed and dozens have been injured. the town west is located 25 miles north of waco. homes and a nursing home have been damaged and a large apartment complex destroyed.

in other news this morning a potential lead in the investigation of the boston marathon bombing. law enforcement officials are looking for a potential suspect spotted on a department store video near the marathon finish line. two blasts killed at least three people. at least 14 others remain in critical condition this morning. today president obama plans to travel to boston for a memorial service. and susan mcginnis is in boston. susan, good morning. >> reporter: anne-marie, good morning. a man in this lord & taylor surveillance video is seen dropping a bag near the finish line, and the image matches the account of images of those who saw a man seen leaving the scene. this could be the first major break in this case. the scene of the second bomb that went off during monday's boston marathon may give us our first look at the suspected bomber. sources tell cbs news that a security cameras at a lord & taylor store captured a man leaving a bag in the area just before the blast. the suspect is described as a

young white man seen carrying a back pack and talking on a cell phone. sources say he was wearing a black jacket, a gray hoodie, and a white baseball cap turned backward on his head. just after the first bomb went off, the suspect left the scene. moments later the second bomb detonated. investigators are also looking at cell phone records hoping to match one of the calls to the man seen in the video. >> there were people with their clothes burning off. >> reporter: karen odom and her husband john felt the first blast while waiting for their daughter nicole to finish the marathon. the bomb tore through karen's husband's legs. >> reporter: they felt the first blast while waiting for their daughter to finish the marathon. the bomb tore through karen's husband's legs. >> he kept saying, my legs, my legs. >> all i knew is my family was at the finish line so i just started running trying to find everybody. >> reporter: karen odom says her husband is recovering but is still unable to speak.

she said she's received support from family and strangers. >> we were sitting in the waiting room and strangers were coming up to us and saying we are so sorry. >> reporter: about a third injured from the attack remained in the hospital. president obama signed an emergency declaration for massachusetts that will better allow federal agencies to coordinate relief and aid for those injured and in need. anne-marie? >> susan mcginnis in boston. thank you, susan. well, straight ahead, your thursday morning weather. plus, we'll take you back to west, texas, for an update on the deadly plant explosion that injure mder than a hundred people. and a setback for gun limits. president obama denounces the defeat of gun control bills in the senate. i'm a lash addict. the only thing stopping me?

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hydra-light's formulas with light, deep-sea minerals give up to 80% more moisturization that won't weigh hair down. nexxus hydra-light. raise your standard. here's l here's a look at today's forecast in some cities around the country. new york, a high of 59 degrees. sunny in miami, but severe thunderstorms in chicago and thunderstorms in dallas as well. los angeles, sunny with a high of 80 degrees. well, prepare for severe thunderstorms and possible tornados today in the plains and upper midwest. expect damaging wind, large hail, and heavy rain that could total 5 inches in some areas. river flooding is likely in wisconsin, illinois, and iowa. the storm will also bring as much as a foot of snow from northern nebraska through wisconsin. and the storm also causing widespread damage in the midwest. in illinois, fierce winds knocked down traffic signals.

a trailer was flung into a stains store, and the side of a pet supply store was torn off. snow in the west forced hundreds of miles of interstate to close. as we've been reporting, a massive explosion at a texas fertilizer plant hassan injured dozens and killed an unknown number of people. the town of west is located about 20 miles north of waco. a ten-block area has been evacuated due to toxic fumes. last night's explosion detonate decimate add four-block area of town according to one city official. up to 75 homes have been damaged, and an apartment complex was destroyed. firefighters were in the plant fighting the fire just before the explosion. >> what did you say? are you okay? >> dad, i can't hear. >> cover your ears. >> earlier i spoke with glen

robinson of hillcrest baptist medical center where some of the victims are being treated. >> we're seeing the type of effects following an explosion such as you've been reporting this evening. a number of folks are coming in with cuts, lacerations, some orthopedic injuries, and early in the evening we were seeing some folks that were experiencing what we would probably call fertilizer contamination that was in their eyes and that sort of thing. but as the evening went on, we did not see any more of those types of patients, but it was probably families that were in nearby homes and apartments that were located near the blast. >> have you heard of any fatalities at all? >> we have not. every patient that has been transported to us, even though some were seriously injured, we do not have any fatalities to report from here. >> and that was glen robinson, a ceo of hillcrest baptist medical center.

now, the senate defeated several gun control measures, including a bipartisan compromise that would have expanded background checks. the bill needed 60 votes to overcome a republican filibuster, but it came up six votes short. president obama called it a shameful day in washington. >> 90% of americans support that idea. most americans think that's already the law. and a few minutes ago 90% of the democrats in the senate voted for that idea. but it's not going to happen because 90% of the republicans in the senate just voted against that idea. >> president obama was joined in the rose garden by former congresswoman gabrielle giffords and families of the sandy hook school shootings. >> when we return, another look at this morning's top story.

we'll go live to west, texas, for an update on the deadly plant explosion. update on the deadly plant explosion. dy. for the times you need to double-check the temperature on the thermometer, be ready. for high fever, nothing works faster or lasts longer. be ready with children's motrin. or lasts longer. parebut not on your face. juvéderm® xc is the gel filler your doctor uses to instantly smooth out lines right here. temporary side effects include redness, pain, firmness, swelling, bumps, or risk of infection. ask your doctor about juvéderm® xc. and didn't know where to start. used a contractor before at angie's list, you'll find reviews on everything from home repair to healthcare written by people just like you. no company can pay to be on angie's list, so you can trust what you're reading. angie's list is like having thousands of close neighbors where i can go ask for personal recommendations. that's the idea. before you have any work done, check angie's list. from roofers to plumbers to dentists and more, angie's list -- reviews you can trust.

i love you, angie. sorry, honey. giant fertilizer plant explosion. now - the search victims in the rubble. plus, a big break in the bo marathon bombings the fbi h face... but not a name. what we know about the mystery m seen on video. and another deadly officer- involved shooting in san francisco. why police say ty were forced to open fire. join us for kpix 5 news this morning... beginning at 4:3 good morning. it's thursday, april 18th. i'm anne,,,, good morning. it's thursday, april 18th. i'm

here's a look at the forecast in some cities around the country. washington, d.c., a high of 76 but cloudy. clouds and sun in atlanta. strong thunderstorms in st. louis, today though. sunshine in denver and light rain in seattle. an unknown number of people have been killed by an explosion at a central texas fertilizer plant. last night's explosion was as powerful as a small earthquake. it leveled the plant and caused extensive damage in the up to of west, and that's about 20 miles north of waco. dozens were injured. manuel bojorquez joins us now live from west. once again, manuel, what can you tell us? what's the latest so far? >> reporter: anne-marie, there are confirmed dead, although officials at this point are not yet willing to put a number on that.

we're told that as the morning goes on, unfortunately whatever that number is, they feel it will grow. just a horrible situation on the ground here. their priority right now is still going from home to home, business to business in the radius of the explosion trying to make sure that people are out of their homes. they're hoping that people who are in there, if they're injured, they will be able to get them to hospitals. they've been doing that for hours now. but they're also, of course, concerned that they will find more victims of the blast in some of the rubble there. a nursing home was damaged. we're told that many people jumped into action to try to rescue some of those elderly patients who were in there and had sheetrock falling on top of them. we spoke with eyewitnesss who said there was a fire and then an explosion. authorities working this right now. we'll have all the latest as we continue to monitor the story. >> manuel bojorquez, thank you very much, from west, texas. ^^.

coming up after your local news on "cbs this morning," more from the texas plant explosion. i'm anne-marie green. news on th "cbs this morning," more from the texas plant explosion. i'm anne-marie green. ingredi. visible wrinkle reduction starts day 1. see younger looking skin before you finish one jar. new from olay. see you'll reallyng skin before dig the savingsjar. at the petsmart spring savings sale. save up to 25% on thousands of items, including all shout® pets stain & odor products. exclusively at petsmart®. happiness in store.™

you're watching continuing coverage of the plant explosion in west, texas. it is a scene of devastation. more than a hundred people have been injured in the blast that happened last night shortly after a fire at the plant. there are an unknown number of confirmed fatalities, and you just saw manuel bojorquez. he's been on the ground in west, texas, throughout the morning. earlier he spoke to some witnesses. >> i was in the back of my truck. i had to duck as fast as i could. my nephew's with me. i had two friends. one of my friends got battered up pretty badly, but he's all right. >> reporter: have you ever experienced anything like that? >> no. it's probably the worst things i've ever seen in my life.

>> reporter: how would you describe it to those not here? >> a giant explosion. >> reporter: how do you feel afterward? >> there's no feeling. it's shock. i mean it's a small town where everybody knows each other. nobody expected that. just shock. >> reporter: do you fear that you'll know some of the injured, some of the deceased unfortunately? >> hopefully i don't. i don't want to hear the names of my friends being called out or relatives. >> we were probably not more than 150 yards from the explosion. and as soon as it happened, i was the last one to take cover behind the truck we were in. i turned around to take a look at the explosion. the shock wave was just unbelievable and it threw me down. >> reporter: how would you describe this event? >> just unbelievable. something you probably would not ever want to see in your life. it was just a gruesome scene. there was just debris everywhere. buildings were almost falling over, caving in. it was just terrible. >> reporter: did you help some of the injured? >> yes.

after the explosion, i actually had to concentrate and focus on what was going on and i ran over because there was a nursing home nearby and i helped some senior citizens and other civilians get out of danger. >> i thought an airplane engine fall off. i saw the ceiling coming down, sheetrock scattered everywhere. and i looked at my wife, and she was covered up with sheetrock. and so i had to get one sheet at a time because i'm restricted on picking up stuff, and so we got her out. >> reporter: you had to rescue your wife. >> yeah. >> reporter: from the rubble. >> yeah. i had to save her. she was on the couch with sheetrock. >> reporter: i mean at some point someone helped you as well, right? >> the man upstairs helped me,

i'll tell you. we ought to have got a scratch or broken something. >> well, i'll tell you. thing that god is looking out for us because we've had some things happen to us but nothing like this. >> manuel bojorquez in west, texas. now, coming up after your local news on "cbs this morning," much more on the fertilizer plant explosion. that's the "cbs morning news." have a great day. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

>> your realtime captioner: linda marie macdonald good morning, it is thursday, april 18. i'm anne makovec. michelle has the morning off. >> hi, everyone. i'm frank mallicoat. it is nearly 5:30 now. we begin with a texas fertilizer plant that exploded and as many as 15 people are dead. the latest on what's happening

in a tiny town north of waco in just a moment but first we are following breaking news right know san francisco. there is a lot of police activity in the south of market area. let's go over to elizabeth wenger in the traffic center for the latest. >> we have live pictures in an area near downtown san francisco market street. several blocks in the area are taped off. there's a lot of police activity in the area. at this point they are telling people to stay indoors. we saw the san francisco bomb squad out there and you can see where they have the yellow police tape up. some of the streets impacted right now, again about two blocks there along market street, also o'farrell, grant we're hearing of closures as well, near 3rd and mission. we'll watch this throughout the morning. back to you guys. >> thank you. [ sound of explosion ] >> i can't hear! i can't hear! get out of here! >> we are following breaking news in texas where as many as 15 people are feared dead right